Esquinas Rainforest Lodge, tucked away in the rainforest of the remote Piedras Blancas National Park in southern Costa Rica, is surrounded by pristine wilderness. Esquinas is a "hot spot" for bird watchers and nature lovers who want to experience a tropical rainforest off the beaten track. There are 18 rooms, an exclusive jungle villa, a restaurant, a bar and a swimming pool.
More than 300 species of birds, almost 100 species of mammals and numerous amphibians and reptiles live in the 14-hectare private reserve and in the adjoining forest of the Piedras Blancas National Park. By planting thousands of rainforest trees in the nearby valley of La Gamba, Esquinas has become one of the few CO2-neutral eco-logs. As part of the "Rainforest of the Austrians" project, Esquinas was awarded the certificate for sustainable tourism by the Costa Rican Tourism Association.
Tours and excursions are offered through a jungle with a similar biodiversity as the famous, nearby National Park Corcovado. Activities include hiking, bird watching, bike tours and boat tours in Golfo Dulce.
Esquinas is located near the village of La Gamba, just 5 km from the Panamericana and just 30 minutes from Golfito airport. The lodge is accessible by car all year round.
"Esquinas literally embodies ecotourism, writes the Lonely Planet Guidebook.
The Rainforest of the Austrians Association, founded in 1991 by the Viennese musician Michael Schnitzler, is dedicated to the conservation of an endangered rainforest area in Costa Rica. Based on the free purchase of 40 km2 of rainforest and its integration into a national park, the project now also includes the reforestation of cleared land, the employment of gamekeepers, the protection of endangered animal species, sustainable tourism and tropical research. The projects are entirely funded by donations.